Clip for pens, pencils, and similar instruments



S. M. NATHAN. CLIP FOB PENS, PENCILS, AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1920.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Jsgzves iferMNaZizan.

:Hiigga I and State of Massachusetts,

UNITED sTATEs SYLVESTER H. NATHAN, FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CLIP FOR PENS, PENCILS, AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENTS.

, Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application flled- Novemberli, 1920. Serial No. 422,784.

To allwhomz't may concern: I

Be it known that I, SYLvns'rnR M. NATHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fitchburg, in the county of l/Vorcester have invented an Improvement in Clips for Pens, Pencils, and Similar Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representin like parts.

his invention relates to clips for pocket implements such as pens. pencils, thermometer cases and similar implements and aims to provide a retaining device of this class having provision 'tosecure the same to the implement and to such a manner that normally any of the implement to escape results in an increased power of the grip, while still providing for instant release oi the device at will. My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accom- 1 clip exemplifying panying drawin s of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: v Figure 1 is an elevation of a fountain pen or'similar instrument equipped with a my invention; g. 2 is a plan of. the clip alone on an enlarged scale; I Fig. 3 is a side elevation oi the clip on the same scale as Fig. 2 viewed from the left'hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4.4 of

Fig. 3 showing also a portion of tlie'fabric of the pocket in section Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig-:6 is a sectional view on line (S-(rot Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of'the drum to which one terminal of the spring is secured; and

Fig. 8 is a plan of the spring as it appears before being coiled. 1

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention selected for exemplification, a fountain pen the latter presenting a convenient place of attachmentfor a clip suitably attached thereto, as by being provided with a band I have shown .18 which embrace the cap.

grip the pocket in which I have 10 having a usual cap 12,

1 '14, which 1s d1sp0sed about the cap and which in the present example is interrupted as at 16, and presents a pair of resilient arms I co Suitably supported by the band is a sw nging gripper, herein exemplified by a pair of cams 20 provided with a serrated or roughened gripping surface, in the present example consisting of a series of teeth 22. In the present embodiment,'the cams are conveniently formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent to form a base 24 and a pair of parallel arms :26, the vlatter being prolonged to form the cams 20. If desired. there may be added a' knob 28 suitably formed on or secured to the base 24:.

The cam lever thus described may be ba'nd 1-1, as by providing the latter with an arm 300011 veniently formed integrally therewith from a single piece of sheet metal and provided with a slot 32 in which the cam leveris received. The free end of the arm may be inclined in an outward direction, as at 34: to facilitate the introduction of the fabric 36 of the )ocket into a space 38 between the arm an the implement. Herein the arm 30 is provided with'integral ears 40 to receive= a pin 42 presenting a pivot for the cam 35 lever. This pin may be headed over at its ends-as at 44 to keep it in place.

A suitable spring is provided to urge the gri iper toward and lengthwise of the axis of the band, that is to say, toward the adjaeent side of the implement. In the swinging movement of the gripper arm the engaging face thereof moves in a generally diagonal directioniinwardly toward the implement and into contact with the pocket and also downwardly, viewing Figs. 1 and 4. In the present example I have provided a spirally coiled spring .46, one end of which is anchored on the pin 42 and the other on a pin 48, the latter in the present example extending through the arms 26 and being headed over' as at 50 to secure the same therein. In the present embodiment, the inner end of the spring is coiled about and secured to a .drum52 provided with a projection conveniently in the form of a hook -54,' to which the inner terminal of the spring is appropriately secured as by providing the same-with a slot 56 (see Fig. 8) which receives the hook. The drum may be held herein square, and by making the. pin 44 similarly shaped in cross section to. fit the opening. It should be understood, however, that the openings provided in are circular, so that they may turn on the pin. The outer terminal portion of the spring rests against'the pin 48 and therefore constantly tends to turn the cam lever clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, so that its teeth 22 are resiliently urged inwardly toward and longitudinally ofthe implement. Turning movement of the cam lever under the influence of the spring is limited by a suitable stop, herein a shoulder 60, which in the present example isythe upper end of the slot 32. Preferably the gripping surface of the" like a wedge wrapped about a of the implement to will pass between stantly by cam is formed eccentricall. with relation to its pivotal axis or in ct er-words, it is that is to say, the points of the teeth are disposed at increasing distances from the center. It follows that when the fabric of the pocket is introduced between the implement and the gripper the latter will recede in opposition to the spring-and the fabric the gripper and the implement. On the other hand, any tendency escape is automatically resisted. because of the eccentricformation of the gripper which causes an increased gripping action to accompany any outward or upward tendency of the implement. When it is desired to remove the implement, however, the gripper may be released. in-

an outward pressure of the finger against t e finger release or knob 28, thereby swinging the gripper in an outward direction inopposition to the spring. It is therefore apparent that accidental release of the ,im plement is practically impossible.

. Having thus described one embodiment of port, said support port normally to enter said space, wedge which, when engaged by the fabric my invention but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is;

l. The combination with a pocket implement, of a device to secure said implement to the pocket,-said device including a supand im lement together ace to receive the fabric of means carried by sai' suppermit the fabric freely to said means presenting a presenting a s the pocket, an

in the direction of removal, is moved by said fabric .relatively to said supportand automatically and increasingly resists withdrawal of said fabric, said means having provision to permit the same to be released manually thereby to allow the fabric to be withdrawn freely. I

2. The combination with a pocket implement, of'a device to secure said implement toithe pocket, said device including a sup port secured to said implement and having a part presenting with said implement a the cams 20 circular wheel, 7

pens, pencils, thermometer cases and similar pocket implesaid part presenting a said means havin(g ments, the combination of means to secure i the retainer to the implement, eccentric gripper carried by and'resiliently urged toward the axis of said means togrip the pocket and having a finger release by means of which said gripper may be released from said 1 pocket.

4JIn a retainer for pens, pencils, thermometer cases and Similar pocket implements, the combination of means to secure the retainer to the implement, a swinging arm carried by said means having a pocket engaging part movable tion both inwardly toward the implement and downwardly whereby togrip the pocket in its swinging acand atoothed, e

and having a yielding bias toward an inward position in which it grips the pocket.

-5. A clip of the classdescribed comprising, in combination, a band having an arm extending transverselythereof and provided with a-longitudinal slot, .a lever received in said slot and fulcrumed on said arm and provided with a serrated, eccentric cam, and

a spring tending to turn said lever about its fulcrum.

6. A clip of the class described comprising, in combination, a band having an arm extending transversely thereof and provided with a longitudinal slot, a lever received in said slot and fulcrumed on said arm, said lever being provided with a pair of arms having serrated, eccentric cams thereon and presenting an opening between them, and a spring received in said opening and tending to turn said lever about its fulcrum.

7. clip of the class described comprising, in combination, a band having an arm' extending transverselythereof and provided slot, a pivot extending with a longitudinal across said slot'and supported by said arm, a lever received in said slot and 'fulcrumed on said pivot, said lever being provided with a pair of arms having serrated, eccentric.

arms thereon and presentingan opening between them, a spring received in said opening and having one end anchored onsaid pivot and the other connected to -said lever to turn the latter about said pivot?" 9. The combination with an elongatedto adjacent one' side thereof and provided with a slot extending longitudinally thereof,

a lever received in said slot and fulcrumed on said support and provided with a ser-' rated eccentric cam, and a spring tending to turn said lever about its fulcrum.-

11. The combination with a pocket implement of a support secured thereto and provided with a slot, a lever received in said slot and fulcrumed on said support, saidlever being provided with a pair of arms having serrated eccentric cams thereon and presenting an opening between them, andia spring received in said 0 ening and tending to turn said lever about its fulcrum.

12. The combination with a pocket implement of a support secured thereto and provided with a longitudinal slot, a pivot extending across said slot and supported by said support, a lever received in said'slot and fulcrumed on said pivot and provided with a serrated eccentric cam, and a sprin vcoiled about said pivot and havingone en fixed and the other end connected to said lever to turn the latter about'said pivot.

13. The combination with a pocket implement of a support/secured thereto andprovided with aslot, a pivot extending across said. slot and supported by said support, a

' lever received in said slot and fulcrumed on said pivot, said lever being provided with a pair of arms having serrated eccentric cams thereon, and presenting an opening between them, a spring received in said opening and having one end anchored on said pivot and the other connected to said lever to turn the latter about said pivot.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

SYLVE SIER M. NATHAN. 

